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2. My Ministers inform me, in reply, that the Meteorological Branch of the Marine Department has copies of rainfall returns which have been supplied from Rarotonga, Niue, Aitutaki, and Mangaia. Copies of these returns will be made and supplied to the Meteorological Office, South Kensington. 3. At present the Marine Department only has rain-gauges at the places mentioned, but the question as to providing funds to procure barometers, barographs, and thermometers for the Cook Islands, so that further meteorological information may be obtained, will be considered when the estimates for next year's expenditure are being prepared. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 60. New Zealand, No. 40. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, sth March, 1915. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 600, of the 31st December last, explaining the arrangements which you have sanctioned for the extension of the scope of the work of the Imperial Institute in the direction of the Institute undertaking investigations for private individuals and firms throughout His Majesty's dominions on payment of suitable fees. 2. My Ministers inform me that they have read your despatch with interest,. and that, in accordance with the wish expressed in the concluding paragraph, steps will be taken to give full publicity to the arrangements which have received your sanction. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 61. New Zealand, No. 43. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, sth March, 1915. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 8, of the sth January, forwarding copies of a memorandum from the Pacific Cable Board, and a copy of a despatch from the Governor-General of Australia, on the subject of terminal rates in Australia and New Zealand. 2. In a minute addressed to the Prime Minister by the Postmaster-General, commenting upon the memorandum, the following remarks are made :■ — " It is to be hoped that the arguments of Sir Henry Babington Smith, which appear to me to be unanswerable, will be conceded the justification of a reduction of the terminal charge accompanied by a lowering of rates to the public by the Commonwealth Government. The memorandum of the 18th November was received from the High Commissioner shortly before the receipt of the Secretary of State's despatch." I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 62. New Zealand, No. 46. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 16th March, 1915. I have the honoui to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 601, of the 31st December last, forwarding, for the consideration of my Ministers, a copy of a letter from the Home Office, enclosing a draft of the regulations which are being

. A.-2, 1915, 7 No. 78. r

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